CAGED

The CAGED system, shape by shape: the five moveable chord forms, then the scales built on them.

How the CAGED System Works

The CAGED system is a method of negotiating the fretboard utilising five open position chord shapes. These are moveable shapes and hence transposable to any key. The ability to play these shapes in one position is the first step into this system. Once achieved the chords can be played up the fretboard one after another in sequence, fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle. Practise playing from every chord in CAGED up and down the fretboard.

The CAGED System: Part One

What the CAGED system actually is, and how classical guitarists use it to memorize pieces and navigate the fretboard — the foundation post for the series.

The CAGED System: Part Two

Part two of the CAGED overview: the pentatonic scale and its five shapes, how to hear it, and how to play it across the whole fretboard.

Each chord can be unfrozen into broken chords or arpeggios. This is only achievable once step two above is secure. Learn each shape individually then start to put two shapes together, then three etc. etc. until all five are playable as arpeggios up and down the fretboard. (Sight reading Hint: notice the pattern similarities on the stave of each shape)

CAGED System: C Shape

The C shape of the CAGED system, introduced through a segment of Barrios' Las Abejas — the first of the box shapes in this series.

CAGED System: A Shape

The A shape of the CAGED system, worked through another segment of Barrios' Las Abejas — how one box shape carries scales and arpeggios up the fretboard.

CAGED System: G Shape

The G shape of the CAGED system, worked through another segment of Barrios' Las Abejas — continuing the box-shape approach from the C and A shapes.

CAGED System: E Shape

The E shape of the CAGED system, explained through Barrios' Las Abejas: the diatonic and pentatonic scale boxes, and how one shape travels up the fretboard.

CAGED System: D Shape

The D shape of the CAGED system, worked through another segment of Barrios' Las Abejas — continuing the box-shape approach from the C, A and G shapes.

Get the CAGED Cheat Sheet

All five shapes, their scales and arpeggios, on one sheet — free to all Patreon members.

Get the Cheat Sheet

How the CAGED System Works, continued

Each shape has two scales associated with it, a diatonic and a pentatonic. Begin with the pentatonic scale and learn each shape and its scale one by one, in position. Once they are secure start to move between two shapes, up and down the scale. Then three etc. etc. until you are able to play all five shapes. Then of course its the diatonic scales. These are probably the most important so make sure they are secure under your fingers. Again like a jigsaw puzzle these scale shapes fit neatly against each other. Learn to recognise each one.

CAGED System Scales

Why CAGED belongs in a classical guitarist's toolkit: memorizing chord progressions and scales, not improvising solos — with the shapes mapped up the fretboard.

The CAGED system works because in reality you only learn one set of 5 shapes with their scales and arpeggios. All you have to do is get familiar with applying those shapes across the fretboard in different keys. So learn the system in C major first then transpose. As you get more familiar with each shape it will become easier each time you use it.

Play CAGED Now

The CAGED System: Part Four – Scale Practice with Carl Verheyen

Practicing CAGED diatonic scales against Carl Verheyen's Truefire country backing track — an unlikely but effective way to drill scale-to-chord thinking.

The Bees Caged

The Bees Caged — Rhayn's book on learning Barrios' Las Abejas through the CAGED system, with three annotated scores and the video series where it began.